The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys National Center for
Environmental Research and Quality Assurance promotes and advances
environmental science in the United States by competitively awarding
grants for research focusing on reduction of risks to human health
and ecosystems and on reduction of uncertainty associated with risk
assessment.

To get the latest information about program deadlines, to view
the latest announcements, and to download text and forms:
http://www.epa.gov/ncerqa

Program Name: Technology for a Sustainable Environment:
EPA/NSF Partnership for Environmental Research

Short Description/Synopsis of Program:

This competition is designed to address pollution avoidance / prevention
processes, methodologies, and technology research. Research proposals
are invited that advance the development and use of innovative technologies
and approaches directed at avoiding or minimizing the generation
of pollutants at the source. Research projects are possible in the
general areas of: chemistry for pollution avoidance or prevention;
engineering for pollution avoidance and prevention; chemical processes
and reaction engineering; simulations, modeling, sensors, and feedback
techniques for pollution avoidance and prevention; and industrial
ecology.

This competition is not intended to address issues related to waste
monitoring, treatment, remediation, recycling, or containment other
than those aspects that pertain to in-process recycling of waste.
Research in the areas of remediation and treatment of hazardous
materials, while very important, is supported by other program activities
in both agencies.

NSF and EPA are providing funds for fundamental and applied research
in the physical sciences and engineering that will lead to the discovery,
development, and evaluation of advanced and novel environmentally
benign methods for industrial processing and manufacturing. The
competition addresses technological environmental issues of design,
synthesis, processing, and the production, use, and ultimate disposition
of products in continuous and discrete manufacturing industries.
Projects must employ fundamental new approaches, and address, or
be relevant to, current national concerns for pollution avoidance
/ prevention (at the source). Projects that are "on the cutting
edge" or are "high-risk/high-payoff" are encouraged.
Projects also will be considered that show the potential to change
research infrastructure, by developing teams, using systems approaches,
introducing new ways of conducting research.

Limitation on the categories of organizations that are eligible
to submit proposals: Proposals may be submitted by universities
and not-for-profit institutions in support of individual investigators
or small groups.

PI eligibility limitations: None

Limitation on the number of proposals that may be submitted
by an organization: Only one proposal may be submitted by a Principal
Investigator and he/she may only collaborate in one other proposal
as a co-Investigator.

Award Information

Type of awards anticipated: Standard and Continuing Grants

Number of awards anticipated in FY 2000: 20

Amount of funds available: Approximately $5.0 million will be
available for this initiative in FY 2000

Cost sharing/matching requirements: Cost sharing with NSF at
a level of 30% of total eligible project costs is required for
all equipment expenses submitted in response to this announcement
above $10,000. The proposed cost sharing must be shown on line
M on the proposal budget (NSF Form 1030.) EPA grants will not
require cost-sharing.

Grant Award Conditions: NSF, GC-1 or FDP-III. EPA grants awarded
as a result of this announcement will be administered in accordance
with 40 CFR Part 30 and 40 or the most recent FDP-III, "Federal
Demonstration Partnership General Terms and Conditions,"
terms and conditions, depending upon the grantee institution.

Special grant conditions anticipated: None anticipated

Special reporting requirements anticipated: None

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) announce their intent to continue to support an extramural
grants competition in fundamental environmental research to be held
in Fiscal Year (FY) 1999-2000. This NSF/EPA research activity has
been developed based on a Memorandum of Understanding between the
agencies which establishes a partnership emphasizing the support
and merit review of fundamental environmental research. This is
the fifth year of the joint awards competition. Information on awards
made in the FY 1995 through FY 1998 competitions may be found on
the Internet through: (http://www.epa.gov/ncerqa)
or (http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/epa/start.htm).

The four research areas targeted this year are:

Technology for a Sustainable Environment

Water and Watersheds

Decision-making and Valuation for Environmental Policy

Environmental Statistics

This announcement solicits applications for Technology for a
Sustainable Environment (TSE). Awards made through this competition
are dependent upon responsiveness of the proposals to the announcement,
the quality, potential impact, and uniqueness of the proposed research,
and the availability of funds. NSF and EPA anticipate awarding approximately
$5 million (combined from the two agencies) for TSE, with a projected
award range from $50,000 to $150,000 per award per year, and an
approximate duration of 2 to 3 years. Subject to the availability
of funds and agency programming decisions, NSF and EPA plan to issue
additional solicitations in the TSE program through FY 2001.

Proposals in response to this TSE announcement must be received
by July 26, 1999. It is anticipated that awards will be made by
early FY 2000. Awards resulting from this TSE competition may be
made by either NSF or EPA, or by joint agency funding through split
awards, at the option of the agencies, not the grantee.

Further information, if needed, may be obtained from the NSF and
EPA officials indicated below. E-mail inquiries are preferred.

General Information on the NSF/EPA Partnership for Environmental
Research:

As a nation, we seek long-term economic growth that creates jobs
while improving and sustaining the environment. It is increasingly
clear that "end-of-pipe" pollution controls are not a
sufficient means of reaching these goals. A new generation of cleaner
industrial manufacturing and processing technologies is needed that
supports pollution avoidance / prevention (at the source), efficient
resource use, and industrial ecology. Such a strategy can help companies
become more competitive by lowering resource and energy needs, reducing
waste and emissions control costs, and fostering sustainable development.

This competition is designed to address pollution avoidance / prevention
processes, methodologies, and technology research. Research proposals
are invited that advance the development and use of innovative technologies
and approaches directed at avoiding or minimizing the generation
of pollutants at the source. This competition is not intended to
address issues related to waste monitoring, treatment, remediation,
recycling, or containment other than those aspects that pertain
to in-process recycling of waste. Research in the areas of remediation
and treatment of hazardous materials, while very important, is supported
by other program activities in both agencies.

NSF and EPA are providing funds for fundamental and applied research
in the physical sciences and engineering that will lead to the discovery,
development, and evaluation of advanced and novel environmentally
benign methods for industrial processing and manufacturing. The
competition addresses technological environmental issues of design,
synthesis, processing, and the production, use, and ultimate disposition
of products in continuous and discrete manufacturing industries.
Projects must employ fundamental new approaches, and address, or
be relevant to, current national concerns for pollution avoidance
/ prevention (at the source). Projects that are "on the cutting
edge" or are "high-risk/high-payoff" are encouraged.
Projects also will be considered that show the potential to change
research infrastructure, by developing teams, using systems approaches,
introducing new ways of conducting research.

Answering research questions related to environmental sustainability
issues often requires the analysis and evaluation of scientific
information and complex phenomena over large spatial and time domains.
The use of modern information technology (IT) and high end computing
resources to do this research presents exciting opportunities to
the research community, and proposals utilizing these approaches
may fit in with other NSF and EPA programs. Molecular modeling and
simulation of physical, biological, and chemical phenomena is another
example of a general research approach that is expected to have
a major impact on methods of approaching environmental sustainability.

The areas of this announcement cover: Chemistry for Pollution Avoidance
or Prevention; Engineering for Pollution Avoidance or Prevention;
Simulations, Modeling, Sensors, and Feedback Techniques for Pollution
Avoidance or Prevention; and Industrial Ecology.

2.1.1 New Grants for Current TSE Projects

Proposal applications that request new grants for currently
on-going TSE projects related to chemistry and engineering activities
described below SHOULD include some form of academic-industrial
collaboration, partnership or involvement. Examples of some
possible collaborative mechanisms are more fully described in NSF's
Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry Solicitation
(GOALI, NSF 98-142), a program dedicated to industry-university
collaborative efforts. More information may be obtained at http://www.nsf.gov/goali.

2.2 Description of Possible Research Projects

2.2.1 Chemistry for Pollution Avoidance or Prevention

The long-range goal of this activity is to develop substances and
processes that are safer, reduce health risks, and are environmentally
friendly. For the chemical industry, preventing pollution at the
source, or "green chemistry," involves the design of chemicals
and alternative chemical processes that do not utilize toxic feedstocks,
reagents, or solvents or reduce or do not produce toxic byproducts
or co-products.

Development of innovative synthetic methods using catalysis
or biocatalysis, including combinatorial or self-assembly approaches;
photochemical, electrochemical, or biomimetic activation; or starting
materials that are innocuous or renewable.

Development of alternative new reaction conditions, such as
using solvents that are environmentally benign, developing separation
methods that reform feedstocks for improved efficiency, developing
advanced laser control of reactivity, or increasing reaction selectivity
to reduce wastes and emissions.

Discovery or redesign of useful chemicals and materials such
that they are less toxic to health and the environment or safer
with regard to accident potential.

Development of advanced sensors that have potential application
in reducing resource use or improving production selectivity.

2.2.2 Engineering for Pollution Avoidance and Prevention

The focus of this program activity is to develop novel engineering
approaches for preventing or reducing pollution from industrial
manufacturing and processing activities, both for continuous and
discrete processes. The scope includes: technology and equipment
modifications, reformulation or redesign of products, substitution
of alternative materials, and in-process changes. Although these
methods are often thought of in relation to the chemical, biochemical,
and materials process industries, they can be utilized in many other
industries, such as semiconductor manufacturing systems.

Potential areas of research include:

Biological Applications: Development of innovative environmental
technologies using bioengineering techniques such as bioprocessing
to prevent pollution at the source in bio-manufacturing processes.
Examples include: research to convert waste biomass into useful
products, genetic engineering to produce more specific biocatalysts,
bioprocessing to increase energy efficiency, decrease use of hazardous
reactants or byproducts, or develop more cost effective methods
of producing environmentally benign products. Remediation is not
addressed here.

Interfacial Transport and Separations: Materials substitutions
and process alternatives which prevent or reduce environmental
harm, such as change of raw material or the use of less hazardous
solvents, organic coatings, and metal plating systems where the
primary focus is on non-reactive diffusional and interfacial phenomena.
Examples include: use of special surfactant systems for surface
cleaning and reactions; novel, cost-effective methods for the
highly efficient in-process separation of useful materials from
the components of the process waste stream, for example, field
enhanced and hybrid separation processes; novel processes for
molecularly controlled chemical and materials synthesis of thin
films and membranes.

Design, Manufacturing, and Industrial Innovations: (a)
New or improved manufacturing processes that reduce production
of hazardous effluents at the source. Examples include: machining
without the use of cutting fluids that currently require disposal
after they are contaminated; eliminating toxic electroplating
solutions by replacing them with ion or plasma-based dry plating
techniques; new bulk materials and coatings with durability, long
life, and other desirable engineering properties that can be manufactured
with reduced environmental impact. (b) Optimization of existing
discrete parts manufacturing operations to prevent, reduce, or
eliminate waste. Concepts include: increased in-process or in-plant
recycling and improved and intelligent process control and sensing
capabilities; in-process techniques that minimize generation of
pollutants in industrial waste incineration processes, design
tool development

Chemical Processes and Reaction Engineering: Improved
reactor, catalyst, or chemical process design in order to increase
product yield, improve selectivity, or reduce unwanted by-products.
Approaches include: novel reactors such as reactor-separator combinations
that provide for product separation during the reaction, alternative
energy sources for reaction initiation, and integrated chemical
process design and operation, including control. Other approaches
are: new multifunctional catalysts that reduce the number of process
stages; novel heterogeneous catalysts that replace state-of-the-art
homogeneous ones; new photo- or electro catalysts that operate
at low temperatures with high selectivity; novel catalysts for
currently uncatalyzed reactions; processes that use renewable
resources in place of synthetic intermediates as feedstocks; novel
processes for molecularly controlled materials synthesis and modification.

This competition also encourages research in physical sciences
and engineering that will lead to the development of novel measurement
and assessment techniques for pollution avoidance / prevention (at
the source). Topics in this program activity include computational
simulations and process design algorithms, as well as the development
of appropriate measurement methods to use as input for such analyses.
The methods developed should provide the basis for scientifically
sound and quantitative comparisons of the environmental impact of
various technologies. The following examples provide some areas
of investigation:

Innovative, quantitative methodologies for conducting plant
process or manufacturing analysis which permit sound quantitative
comparisons of impacts of different pollutants on different media.

Process simulator modules for new technologies such as novel
membrane processes.

Computational (molecular) models that predict reaction selectivity
in terms of a few fundamental properties of substances and integration
of those models into chemical reaction databases relevant to environmentally
benign chemical processes.

Improved and intelligent sensors and control algorithms for
real time, in-process multivariate control of manufacturing equipment
and systems to reduce waste material and hazardous emissions.

2.2.4 Industrial Ecology

This competition supports the development of new methodologies
and approaches in the growing field of industrial ecology. Industrial
ecology requires that an industrial system be viewed not in isolation
from its surrounding systems, but in concert with them. It is a
systems view in which one seeks to optimize the total materials
cycle from virgin material, to finished material, to component,
to product, to recycle or reuse, to obsolete product, to ultimate
disposal. Factors to be optimized include resources, energy and
capital.

Potential research topics include, but are not limited to, the
following:

Innovative methodologies for streamlined and targeted life-cycle-assessment
and analysis, including product use interactions with the environment
and impact prioritization models;

Environmentally benign processes in a systems context including
design for material and energy minimization while avoiding environmental
harm;

Environmentally benign product design methodologies, considering
the entire life-cycle of the materials employed in the production,
use and disposal of products; product design methodologies and
systems that can provide scientifically sound comparisons with
less comprehensive data inputs and computational analysis; design
for disassembly, reuse and recycling.

2.3 Additional Considerations

2.3.1 Industrial-Academic Collaboration

A clearer understanding of problems and more creative solutions
often result from collaboration between academic and the industrial
investigators who represent the eventual customers for the products
of the research. Therefore, applicants are strongly encouraged to
seek meaningful project collaboration with industrial partners on
research issues that link fundamental and applied aspects of pollution
prevention / avoidance. In some cases, government agencies or professional
organizations may be an appropriate substitute for an industrial
partner. The NSF GOALI program announcement (NSF 98-142) outlines
several mechanisms for these collaborations. Other mechanisms for
collaboration will also be considered.

2.3.2 Multidisciplinary Proposals

Environmental problems often cross disciplinary boundaries. This
solicitation welcomes interdisciplinary proposals that address the
TSE topic areas. Proposals may be submitted by individuals or small
groups of investigators who are working on projects that will advance
the concepts and technologies of pollution avoidance / prevention
(at the source).

2.3.3 Student involvement

Researchers from both academic and non-profit institutions may
apply for support (see Section 3.0). Projects involving the training
and education of junior scientists and engineers (such as graduate
students) in academia through the research experience are very strongly
encouraged.

3.0 ELIGIBILITY

Academic and not-for-profit institutions located in the U.S. are
eligible. Profit-making firms and federal agencies are not eligible
to apply to this program. However, personnel in profit-making firms
may participate as non-funded co-investigators or through sub-contracts
with the awardee institution.

Federal employees may cooperate or collaborate with eligible applicants
within the limits imposed by applicable legislation and regulations.
However, federal agencies, national laboratories funded by federal
agencies (FFRDCs), and federal employees are not eligible to submit
applications to this program and may not serve in a principal leadership
role on a grant. Under exceptional circumstances the principal investigator's
institution may subcontract to a federal agency or FFRDC to purchase
unique supplies or services unavailable in the private sector. Examples
are purchase of satellite data, census data tapes, chemical reference
standards, unique analyses or instrumentation not available elsewhere,
etc. A written justification for such federal involvement must be
included in the application, along with an assurance from the federal
agency that commits it to supply the specified service. Federal
employees may not receive salaries or in other ways augment their
agency's appropriations through grants made by this program. Potential
applicants who are uncertain of their eligibility should contact
Dr. Robert E. Menzer at EPA (Address listed in Section 1.0).

EPA and NSF welcome applications on behalf of all qualified scientists,
engineers, and other professionals and strongly encourage women,
members of underrepresented groups, and persons with disabilities
to compete fully in any of the programs described in this announcement.

In accordance with Federal statutes and regulations and EPA and
NSF policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national
origin, or disability shall be excluded from participation in, denied
the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program
or activity receiving financial assistance from EPA or NSF.

4.0
INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSION

4.1 Sorting Codes

In order to facilitate proper assignment and review of applications,
each applicant MUST identify the topic area in which the application
is to be considered. Failure to do so may result in delay. At various
places within the application, applicants will be asked to identify
this topic area by using the appropriate Sorting Code. The Sorting
Codes correspond to the topic areas within the announcement
and are shown below:

The Sorting Code must be placed at the end of the proposal title
and enclosed in parentheses, e.g., "A New Algorithm to Incorporate
Pollution Avoidance Into Process Design (TSE99-G)," and this
title must also be placed on the top of the project summary (abstract)
page. NSF and/or EPA may reassign proposals to other or multiple
sorting categories to ensure optimal review of proposals.

4.2 The Application

Proposals submitted to the TSE competition MUST conform to NSF
proposal submission requirements. The NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG,
NSF 99-2) provides detailed proposal preparation guidance. All proposals
should be prepared in accordance with the GPG (http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf992),
except as modified in this announcement. (including the information
in section 4.3 below.) All forms needed to apply are available in
the GPG and in the Proposal Forms Kit (NSF 99-3). The GPG and Forms
Kit are available electronically through the NSF Home Page at http://www.nsf.gov.
Paper copies can be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse,
P.O. Box 218, Jessup, MD 20794-0218; Phone: 301-947-2722 or by e-mail
from pubs@nsf.gov.

Proposers are reminded to identify the program announcement number
(NSF 99-108) in the program announcement/solicitation block on the
NSF Form 1207, "Cover Sheet for Proposal to the National Science
Foundation." Compliance with this requirement is critical to
determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure
to submit this information may delay processing.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare their proposals
for full electronic submission using the FastLane system at https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov.
For proposals prepared for paper-copy submission, the cover sheet
and project summary MUST be submitted through FastLane. For further
information, see section 4.5 How to Apply and Appendix
A below.

To fulfill the requirements of section 4.3 below, applicants submitting
through FastLane should place these additional pages, clearly labeled,
at the end of the Project Description section. Paper-copy submissions
should place these pages, clearly labeled, in Section I, Special
Information and Supplementary Documentation, as identified in
the GPG. Other than these additional pages, the fifteen (15)
page limit on the Project Description section is in effect.

It is important that the application contain all the information
requested in the format described. If it does not, the application
will be returned without review. Once an applicant is chosen for
award (i.e., after external peer review and internal programmatic
review), EPA or NSF program officers may request additional documentation
and forms.

4.3 Additional Pages ­ Quality Assurance Narrative

All projects must provide a statement on how quality products will
be assured. This statement should not exceed two pages. The Quality
Assurance Narrative Statement should, for each item listed below,
either present the required information or provide a justification
as to why the item does not apply to the proposed research.

1. The activities to be performed or hypothesis to be tested (reference
may be made to the specific page and paragraph number in the application
where this information may be found); criteria for determining the
acceptability of data quality in terms of precision, accuracy, representativeness,
completeness, comparability;

2. The study design including sample type and location requirements
and any statistical analyses that were used to estimate the types
and numbers of samples required for physical samples or similar
information for studies using survey and interview techniques;

3. The procedures for the handling and custody of samples, including
sample identification, preservation, transportation, and storage;

4. The methods that will be used to analyze samples collected,
including a description of the sampling and/or analytical instruments
required;

5. The procedures that will be used in the calibration and performance
evaluation of the sampling and analytical methods used during the
project;

6. The procedures for data reduction and reporting, including a
description of statistical analyses to be used and of any computer
models to be designed or utilized with associated verification and
validation techniques;

7. The intended use of the data as they relate to the study objectives
or hypotheses;

8. The quantitative and or qualitative procedures that will be
used to evaluate the success of the project;

9. Any plans for peer or other reviews of the study design or analytical
methods prior to data collection.

These additional pages (mandated by EPA, should be submitted as
supplementary documentation, as detailed in Section I of the GPG,
in the submission to NSF, and) do not count against the fifteen
(15) page limit NSF has established for the Project Description
section of proposals.

4.4 Additional Budgetary Guidance

Subcontracts for research to be conducted under the grant which
exceed 40% of the total direct cost of the grant for each year in
which the subcontract is awarded must be especially well justified.

Researchers may be invited to participate in an annual All-Investigators
Meeting with NSF and EPA scientists, engineers, and other grantees
to report on research activities and to discuss areas of mutual
interest. Budget requests should include travel funds to accommodate
that eventuality.

4.5 How to Apply

A. Proposal Deadline

For paper submission of the proposals, ten copies of the proposal
MUST be received by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), July
26, 1999.

For electronic submission of proposals by FastLane, the proposal
MUST be submitted by 5:00 p.m., local time, July 26, 1999. Copies
of the signed proposal cover sheet must be submitted in accordance
with the instructions below.

B. Paper Proposal Submission

Submission of paper copies still requires the use of FastLane.
See the additional instructions for Cover Page and Summary Submission
in Appendix A.

To be considered, the original and ten (10) copies of the fully
developed application must be received by NSF no later than 5:00
p.m. EDT on the closing date, July 26, 1999.

For paper submission of proposals, the delivery address must
clearly identify the NSF announcement or solicitation number
under which the proposal is being submitted.

C. Electronic Proposal Submission: FastLane

The NSF FastLane system is available for electronic preparation
and submission of a proposal through the Web at the FastLane Web
site at https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov.
The Sponsored Research Office (SRO or equivalent) must provide a
FastLane Personal Identification Number (PIN) to each Principal
Investigator (PI) to gain access to the FastLane Proposal Preparation
application. PIs who have not submitted a proposal to NSF in the
past must contact their SRO to be added to the NSF PI database.
This should be done as soon as the decision to prepare a proposal
is made.

In order to use NSF FastLane to prepare and submit a proposal,
the following is required:

Browser (must support multiple buttons and file upload)

Netscape 3.0 or greater * Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 or
greater

PDF Reader (needed to view/print forms)

Adobe Reader 3.0 or greater

PDF Generator (needed to create project description)

Adobe Acrobat 3.01 or greater * Aladdin Ghostscript 5.10 or
greater.

A list of registered institutions and the FastLane registration
form are located on the FastLane Web page.

The cover page should identify the DIV OF CHEMICAL AND TRANSPORT
SYSTEMS as the organizational unit to receive the proposal. This
can be done by clicking the "Add Organizational Unit"
button, which can be found on the Cover Sheet Screen within the
FastLane Proposal Preparation Module, and selecting the item from
the pull-down menu.

Proposals must be submitted to NSF by your institution's SRO before
5 p.m. local time on July 26, 1999. Proposals or changes in proposal
content after that time will not be considered.

Submission of Signed Cover Sheets

For proposals submitted electronically via the NSF FastLane, the
signed proposal Cover Sheet (NSF Form 1207) should be forwarded
to the following address and received by NSF by August 2, 1999:

Informal, incomplete, or unsigned proposals will not be considered.
A proposal may not be processed until the complete proposal (including
signed Cover Sheet) has been received by NSF. [If the proposal is
delivered in person to NSF, a signed and dated receipt must be obtained
from a member of NSF's Proposal Processing Unit as confirmation
of receipt. It is also strongly recommended that a backup floppy
disk (with the material sent by FastLane) be mailed to the NSF Directorate
for Engineering FastLane Coordinator (Cheryl Albus, Room 505)].

5.0 REVIEW AND SELECTION

5.1 Review Procedures

A. Merit Review

All grant applications are initially screened by NSF and EPA to
determine their compliance with legal and administrative requirements.
Reviews of proposals submitted to NSF are solicited from peers with
expertise in the substantive area of the proposed research or education
project. These reviewers are selected by Program officers of each
agency charged with the oversight of the review process. Care is
taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of interest with
the proposer. Special efforts are made to recruit reviewers from
non-academic institutions, minority serving institutions, adjacent
disciplines to that principally addressed in the proposal, etc.
This review is designed to evaluate each proposal according to its
scientific and technical merit, potential impact on environmental
quality, and uniqueness. Proposals submitted in response to this
announcement will be reviewed by panel review only except in special
cases where supplemental mail review may be used.

Proposals will be reviewed against the following general merit
review criteria established by the National Science Board (NSB 97-72).
Following each criterion are potential considerations that the reviewer
may employ in the evaluation. The revised criteria are designed
to be useful and relevant across NSF's many different programs;
however, NSF and EPA will continue to employ special criteria required
to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.
The two revised merit review criteria are listed below. Following
each criterion are potential considerations that reviewers may employ
in the evaluation. These are suggestions and not all will apply
to any given proposal. Reviewers will address only those points
that are relevant to the proposals and for which they are qualified
to make judgments.

In evaluating the responsiveness of proposals to the research needs
set forth in this announcement, the review group will consider:

What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?

How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and
understanding within its own field or across different fields? How
well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the
project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality
of prior work.) To what extent does the proposed activity suggest
and explore creative and original concepts? How well conceived and
organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to
resources?

What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?

How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding
while promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does
the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented
groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)?
To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and
education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships?
Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and
technological understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed
activity to society?

Although budget information is not used by the reviewers as the
basis for their evaluation of scientific merit, the reviewers are
asked to provide their input on the appropriateness and/or adequacy
of the proposed budget and its implications for the potential success
of the proposed research. Input on requested equipment is of particular
interest.

B. Integration of Research and Education

One of the principal strategies in support of this programs goals
is to foster integration of research and education through the programs,
projects and activities it supports at academic and research institutions.
These institutions provide abundant opportunities for individuals
to concurrently assume responsibilities as researchers, educators,
and students for all to engage in joint efforts that infuse education
with the excitement of discovery and enrich research through the
diversity of learner perspectives. PIs should address this issue
in their proposal to provide reviewers with the information necessary
to respond fully to both merit review criteria. Program staff of
both agencies will give it careful consideration in making funding
decisions.

C. Integrating Diversity into Program, Projects, and Activities

Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all
citizens--women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons
with disabilities--is essential to the health and vitality of science
and engineering. NSF and EPA are committed to this principle of
diversity and deem it central to the programs, projects, and activities
they consider and support. PIs should address this issue in their
proposal to provide reviewers with the information necessary to
respond fully to both merit review criteria. Program staff of both
agencies will give it careful consideration in making funding decisions.

D. Review Considerations (Industrially Relevant Issues; Impact)

It is worth emphasizing several points regarding focuses of this
solicitation. Since TSE has been established to address problems
related to pollution prevention and avoidance, specifically at the
source, proposals will be evaluated on the potential impact of the
research on important environmental topic areas as set forth in
this solicitation. Some of the other significant process industry
issues are highlighted in documents such as Vision 2020 (http://www.ccrhq.org/vision).
Industrial collaborators are another source of environmental issues
to be addressed. If an industrial collaboration is described in
the proposal, reviewers will assess the collaborative contribution
to meeting the goals of this competition.

Reviewers will consider the potential impact of the research on
pollution prevention at the source, uniqueness, and extent of high
risk, in addition to scientific criteria, as described in NSF's
standard review criteria in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (NSF 99-2).

Following the review panel, a joint EPA/NSF selection panel of
NSF and EPA staff will review the recommendations of the panel,
and arrive at agency funding recommendations. Applications that
receive high merit scores from the peer reviewers are subjected
to a programmatic ("relevancy") review within EPA, the
object of which is to assure a balanced research portfolio for EPA.
Scientists from the Office of Research and Development (ORD) Laboratories
and EPA Program and Regional Offices review these applications in
relation to program priorities and their complementarity to the
ORD intramural program and recommend selections to National Center
for Environmental Research (NCER) (http://www.epa.gov/ncer/).
Staff from each agency will contact the potential grantee regarding
possible clarifications of the budgets, format, scope, and format.
Copies of the evaluations by the technical reviewers will be provided
to each applicant. In the case of proposals that may be funded by
EPA, a revised proposal will be necessary to conform to EPA format
and policy requirements. This procedure has been followed for the
past four years, as the primary administration of this joint agency
research activity rotates between the two agencies. EPA grants will
not require cost-sharing. Funding decisions are the sole responsibility
of EPA and NSF. Grants are selected on the basis of technical merit,
relevancy to the research priorities outlined, program balance,
and budget. The anticipated date of awards is early FY 2000. The
approximate total levels of funding of each agency are: EPA: $3,000,000;
NSF: $2,000,000.

5.2 Proprietary Information

By submitting an application in response to this announcement,
the applicant grants NSF and EPA permission to share the application
with technical reviewers both within and outside the Agencies. Applications
should not include proprietary or other types of confidential information
that cannot be evaluated on this basis.

6.0 GRANT ADMINISTRATION

Upon conclusion of the review process, meritorious applications
may be recommended for funding by either NSF or EPA, at the option
of the agencies, not the applicant. Notification of the award
is made to the submitting organization by a Grants Officer.
Organizations whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly
as possible by the cognizant NSF Program Division administering
the program. Verbatim copies of reviews, not including the identity
of the reviewer, will be provided automatically to the Principal
Investigator. Subsequent grant administration procedures will be
in accordance with the individual policies of the awarding agency.

6.1 EPA Grant Administration

The funding mechanisms for all EPA awards issued under this announcement
will consist of grant agreements between EPA and the recipient.
In accordance with Public Law 95-224, grants are used to accomplish
a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by Federal
statute rather than acquisition for the direct benefit of the Agency.
In using a grant agreement, EPA anticipates that there will be no
substantial involvement during the course of the grant between the
recipient and the Agency.

EPA grants awarded as a result of this announcement will be administered
in accordance with 40 CFR Part 30 and 40 or the most recent FDP-III,
"Federal Demonstration Partnership General Terms and Conditions,"
terms and conditions, depending upon the grantee institution.

EPA provides awards for research in the sciences and engineering
related to environmental protection. The awardee is solely responsible
for the conduct of such activities and preparation of results for
publication. EPA, therefore, does not assume responsibility for
such findings or their interpretation.

EPA annual and final reports and their summaries are to be submitted
electronically. Summaries will be posted on the NCER home page on
the Internet.

6.2 NSF Grant Administration

NSF grants awarded as a result of this announcement will be administered
in accordance with the terms and conditions of the most recent NSF
GC-1,"Grant General Conditions," or the FDP-III,
depending on the grantee organization. More comprehensive information
on the administration of NSF grants is contained in the Grant
Policy Manual (GPM, NSF 95-26, July 1995), Chapter II, available
electronically on the NSF Web site. The GPM is also for sale through
the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office (GPO),
Washington, D.C. 20402. The telephone number at GPO is 202-512-1800
for subscription information; the GPM can also be ordered through
the GPO Web site at http://www.gpo.gov.

Organizations applying to NSF for the first time, or which have
not received an NSF award within the preceding two years, should
refer to the NSF Grant Policy Manual, Section 500, for instructions
on specific information that may be requested by NSF. One copy of
the Grant Policy Manual will be provided free of charge to new grantee
organizations. The "Prospective New Awardee Guide" (NSF
97-100) includes information on: Administration and Management Information;
Accounting System Requirements and Auditing Information; and Payments
to Organizations with Awards. This information will assist an organization
in preparing documents that NSF requires to conduct administrative
and financial reviews of an organization. The guide also serves
as a means of highlighting the accountability requirements associated
with Federal awards. This document is available electronically on
NSFs Web site at: <http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf97100>.
First time NSF awardees will be required to submit organizational,
management, and financial information, including a certification
of civil rights compliance, before a grant can be made.

For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing
grants), the PI must submit an annual project report to the cognizant
program officer at least 60 days before the end of each budget period.
(Note: The PI should consult with the cognizant NSF program officer
because individual program officers may have additional or more
specific guidelines for these reports). Within 90 days after expiration
of a grant, the PI must submit a final project report. Approximately
30 days before expiration, NSF will send a notice to remind the
PI of the requirement. Failure to provide final technical reports
delays NSF review and processing of pending NSF proposals for that
PI and any co-PIs. PIs should examine or determine the formats of
the required progress and final reports in advance, to assure that
they are keeping adequate data and records. Effective October 1,
1998, PIs are required to use the new formats for these reports
and effective October 1, 1999, are required to submit their reports
electronically via FastLane.

NSF Final Report Requirements are described in GPG, NSF 99-2. Final
project report formats are available on the web. Also, some programs
may have additional recommendations of format, style, etc. and so
it is best to remain in contact with the appropriate program director.

6.2.1 About the NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and
engineering. Grantees are wholly responsible for conducting their
project activities and preparing the results for publication. Thus,
the Foundation does not assume responsibility for such findings
or their interpretation.

NSF welcomes proposals from all qualified scientists, engineers
and educators. The Foundation strongly encourages women, minorities,
and persons with disabilities to compete fully in its programs.
In accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and NSF policies,
no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin,
or disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied
the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program
or activity receiving financial assistance from NSF (unless otherwise
specified in the eligibility requirements for a particular program).

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities
(FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable
persons with disabilities (investigators and other staff, including
student research assistants) to work on NSF-supported projects.
See the program announcement or contact the program coordinator
at (703) 306-1636.

The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf
(TDD) and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities
that enable individuals with hearing impairments to communicate
with the Foundation regarding NSF programs, employment, or general
information. TDD may be accessed at (703) 306-0090 or through FIRS
on 1-800-877-8339.

6.2.2 EPA Mission and Research and Development Strategy

The mission of EPA is to protect both environmental quality and
human health through effective regulations and other policy initiatives.
Achievement of this mission requires the application of sound science
to assessment of environmental problems and to evaluation of possible
solutions. A significant challenge is to support both long-term
research that anticipates future environmental problems as well
as research that fills gaps in knowledge relevant to meeting current
Agency goals. Requests for Applications issued by the Science to
Achieve Results (STAR) Program are an important mechanism for promoting
a sound scientific foundation for environmental protection.

EPAs research programs focus on reduction of risks to human health
and ecosystems and on the reduction of uncertainty associated with
risk assessment. Through its laboratories and through grants to
academic and other not-for-profit institutions, EPA also fosters
the development and evaluation of new risk reduction technologies
across a spectrum, from pollution prevention through end-of-pipe
controls to remediation and monitoring. In all areas, EPA is interested
in research that recognizes issues relating to environmental justice,
the concept of achieving equal protection from environmental and
health hazards for all people without regard to race, economic status,
or culture.

EPAs extramural research grant program, the STAR Program, is administered
by the Office of Research and Developments National Center for
Environmental Research (NCER). Announcements of specific programmatic
announcements will be found on the internet at http://www.epa.gov/ncerqa.

6.2.3 PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS

The information requested on proposal forms and project reports
is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation
Act of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will
be used in connection with the selection of qualified proposals;
project reports submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation
and reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information
requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants
as part of the review process; to applicant institutions/grantees
to provide or obtain data regarding the proposal review process,
award decisions, or the administration of awards; to government
contractors, experts, volunteers and researchers and educators as
necessary to complete assigned work; to other government agencies
needing information as part of the review process or in order to
coordinate programs; and to another Federal agency, court or party
in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government
is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may be added
to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to
serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems
of Records, NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and
Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 267 (January 5, 1998),
and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records,"
63 Federal Register 268 (January 5, 1998). Submission of the information
is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information,
however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated
to average 120 hours per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions. Send comments regarding this burden estimate and any
other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions
for reducing this burden, to: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
Officer; Division of Administrative Services; National Science Foundation;
Arlington, VA 22230.

6.2.4 YEAR 2000 REMINDER

In accordance with NSF Important Notice No. 120 dated June 27,
1997, Subject: Year 2000 Computer Problem, NSF and EPA awardees
are reminded of their responsibility to take appropriate actions
to ensure that the activity being supported is not adversely affected
by the Year 2000 problem. Potentially affected items include: computer
systems, databases, and equipment. NSF and EPA should be notified
if an awardee concludes that the Year 2000 will have a significant
impact on its ability to carry out an NSF or EPA funded activity.
Information concerning Year 2000 activities can be found on the
NSF web site at http://www.nsf.gov/oirm/y2k/start.htm.

The National Science Foundation is committed to making all of the
information we publish easy to understand. If you have a suggestion
about how to improve the clarity of this document or other NSF-published
materials, please contact us at plainlanguage@nsf.gov.

Activities described in this publication are in the following categories
in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA): 47.041 Engineering;
47.049 Mathematics and Physical Sciences; 66.500 EPA Grants. OMB
3145-0058

If you are submitting your proposal using paper copies rather than
electronically, you are required to submit the proposal cover sheet
and the project summary to NSF using FastLane. To access FastLane,
go to the NSF Web-site at http://www.nsf.gov,
then select "FastLane," or go directly to FastLane: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov.

A.1 Instructions for the Principal Investigator (PI):

Contact your institutions Sponsored Research Office (SRO) for
a PIN number to gain access to the FastLane "Proposal Preparation"
module. If you have not submitted a proposal to NSF in the past,
you must contact your SRO to be added to the NSF PI database. Please
do this as soon as you decide to prepare a TSE proposal, since this
may require a few days.

As early as possible, enter your cover sheet and project-summary
information using the FastLane "Proposal Preparation"
module. In the field labeled "Program Announcement"
on the cover sheet type in the program announcement number, (e.g.,
NSF 99-108) exactly as shown with no additional spaces or characters.
The Sorting Code must be put at the end of the title and set off
with parentheses as described in Section 4.1.

The cover page should identify the DIV OF CHEMICAL AND TRANSPORT
SYSTEMS as the organizational unit to receive the proposal. This
can be done by clicking the "Add Organizational Unit"
button, which can be found on the Cover Sheet Screen within the
FastLane Proposal Preparation Module, and selecting the item from
the pull-down menu.

Click on the "Allow SRO Access" button. Allow
time for your SRO to approve, copy and mail the proposal to meet
the deadline.

A.2 Instructions for the Sponsored Research Office (SRO):

Print the second page of the cover sheet in time to obtain the
required institutional signatures.

Before assembling the proposal for copying, submit the cover
sheet to NSF via FastLane using the "Submit Proposal"
function within the "Institutional Management of FastLane"
module. This will generate a proposal number. Print a copy of the
cover sheet from FastLane; it will have the proposal number on it.
Substitute the first page of the cover sheet for the one produced
by the PI. Make copies of the proposal and submit to NSF according
to the usual procedures for a paper proposal.

For 1999, the paper copies of the proposal MUST be received at
NSF by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July 26,1999, in order
to be eligible. PIs and SROs should allow sufficient time to be
sure that all material will reach NSF in time. You may direct questions
concerning FastLane or problems utilizing FastLane to the FastLane
contacts listed in Section 1.0.

APPENDIX
B: RELATION TO NSF, EPA, AND OTHER CURRENT AND PAST AGENCY ACTIVITIES

NSF and EPA have many different environmental research activities.
This section describes a few past and current NSF and EPA activities
related to environmental technology. The activities described below
are for your background or future use only; they may not be necessarily
related to this announcement, or they may not currently be accepting
proposals separate from this announcement.

The NSF/EPA Technology for a Sustainable Environment activity is
an integral part of EPA's Science to Achieve Results (STAR)
research program and supports EPAs Green Chemistry Challenge
Program, Green Engineering, and other pollution prevention
activities in EPA. For NSF, this activity is an integral part of
its Environmentally Benign Chemical Synthesis and Processing
(EBCS&P; NSF 92-13) activity and its Environmentally
Conscious Manufacturing (ECM; NSF 95-91) program activity as
described below.

B.1 Environmental Protection Agency

Green Chemistry Program: This program is directed at preventing
pollution by promoting design of less toxic chemical substances
and alternative chemical pathways that involve less toxic feedstocks,
reagents, or solvents and generate fewer toxic products, by-products,
or co-products. As part of this program, EPA has initiated the Green
Chemistry Challenge Program to recognize and promote fundamental
and innovative chemical methodologies that accomplish pollution
prevention through source reduction and that have a broad application
in industry. Green chemistry encompasses all aspects and types of
chemical processes  including synthesis, catalysis, analysis, monitoring,
separations, and reaction conditions  that reduce negative impacts
on human health and the environment relative to the current state
of the art. Through awards and grants programs, the Green Chemistry
Challenge Program recognizes and promotes fundamental and innovative
technologies that incorporate the principles of green chemistry
into chemical design, manufacture, and use. The Green Chemistry
Challenge Awards Program recognizes those in industry, academia,
and government who have met the Green Chemistry objectives in an
exemplary way. The Green Chemistry Challenge Grants Program, through
projects awarded under TSE, enhances support for cutting-edge research
in this area.

Design For The Environment And The Green Engineering Programs:
Through the Design for the Environment (DfE) Program, EPA provides
businesses with information to make environmentally-informed choices
and ultimately prevent pollution and reduce risks. DfE partners
with industry, public interest groups, universities, research institutions,
labor groups, and other governmental agencies to evaluate cleaner
alternatives to existing products, processes, or technologies. Across
a wide variety of projects, the DfE Program strives to promote the
consideration of environmental factors along with the traditional
business decision parameters of cost and performance. Currently,
DfE supports cooperative industry projects in eight sectors. Other
green engineering programs include educational partnerships for
curriculum development and professional training in pollution prevention,
and a project in environmental accounting.

B.2 National Science Foundation

Environmentally Benign Chemical Synthesis and Processing (EBCS&P):
This program, described in NSF 92-13 http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/stis1992/nsf9213/nsf9213.txt,
is aimed at preventing pollution by providing financial support
for fundamental research in the identification of environmentally
benign chemical and material synthesis and related manufacturing
processes. For the NSF Engineering Directorate's Chemical and Transport
Systems Division, the Technology for a Sustainable Environment
(TSE) activity subsumes the EBCS&P activity in Fiscal
Years 1999-2000. For the NSF Directorate of Mathematics and Physical
Science's Division of Chemistry, research proposals are also accepted
for EBCS&P activities as part of its normal review process,
as well as through this special NSF/EPA TSE activity. Proposals
submitted directly to the Chemistry Division must be received between
July 1, 1999 and January 15, 2000.

The ECM competition addresses specific aspects of the Environmentally
Conscious Manufacturing Initiative Announcement, NSF 95-91.
Therefore in Fiscal Year 1999, the ECM activity is largely
subsumed in this announcement. However, only those areas described
in this solicitation will be considered; proposals in all other
ECM topic areas may be submitted under the normal procedures
for unsolicited NSF proposals (Grant Proposal Guide, NSF 99-2) to
the relevant divisions. Copies of the NSF 95-91 or 99-2 announcements
are available upon request (703-306-1330) and can also be obtained
via the World Wide Web at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/pubsys/browser/odbrowse.pl.

B.3 Joint NSF and EPA Activities

Interagency Announcement of Opportunities in Metabolic Engineering:
This Announcement is described in NSF 99-85 and provides an
Interagency definition of Metabolic Engineering. The Announcement
focuses on three topic areas of Metabolic Engineering that are of
particular interest to the eight participating agencies, including
EPA and NSF. Metabolic Engineering proposals will not be supported
in TSE and should be directed to the NSF 99-85 announcement. All
of the Research Directorates at NSF are participating in this Activity,
which is designed to allow two or more of the participating Agencies
to support projects of common interest. The topic areas of Metabolic
Engineering mentioned in its Announcement have applications in bio-remediation,
environmentally conscious manufacturing, and pollution prevention.
Pre-Proposals are due May 17, 1999, and those Pre-Proposals that
are considered responsive to the Announcement will be invited to
submit Full Proposals.

B.4 Other Agencies

This research solicitation can be viewed as part of an evolving
national network of Federal research support and industry collaboration
that is becoming a "research stewardship network" in Green
Chemistry and Engineering. Although still developing, a set of research
plans or roadmaps is evolving through joint efforts of federal agencies,
industry and academia that can form the basis for a coordinated
research network. A series of research workshops to discuss research
results and needs in each of several research components or areas
of Green Chemistry and Engineering is emerging. For example, workshops
have been held or are planned addressing polymer chemistry, catalysis,
dense phase fluids, electro-technologies, bioprocessing and bioseparations,
solid/liquid separations, and synthesis and processing using alternate
resources. These workshops, which are hosted or sponsored by different
stakeholder organizations, link directly to the industrys Vision
2020 strategy.

Another important part of the developing research network is the
National Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference presented
by the American Chemical Society with support from EPA, NSF and
co-sponsorship by several other federal agencies and trade and professional
organizations. This conference presents the latest research findings
and provides a forum for an annual overview of research in these
areas. The next scheduled conference will be held on June 29-July
2, 1999, at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C.

The federal research support programs in this area are complementary.
For example, the research supported in this solicitation is on the
more fundamental end of the research continuum, though oriented
toward long-term improvement of environmental sustainability of
the chemical and other industries. Collaboration with industry researchers
is encouraged. Funding from other agencies such as the Departments
of Energy and Commerce tends to support more applied stages of research
and requires collaboration and co-funding by industry.